Why are my Muscovies not keeping with the other's on here???

[D'Angelo N Va.]

I am in Va. and my Muscovy ducks are not laying yet... I have a friend that raises Muscovies and says her don't lay until about mid March and stop in late Oct..she is about 1 1/2 hr. from me...Yet, I see others on here are getting loads of Muscovy eggs right now and some of them have gone broody....what's the deal??

 

[Captain Carrot]

I'm fairly sure it's down to the temperature of where they are kept. In Austria where I live we've had a really bad winter, and my Muscovies only started laying again yesterday.

Once the days get warmer and lighter the ducks will start laying.

 

[lovesduckies]

my scovies and mallards are laying.... i live in so cal

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

ok, so it's the temp??? We have had some really nice days. So again, it's the temp. in the hen house, so the quicker I get them outside the quicker I see eggs...

 

[Mom 2em All]

I dont know what yours are waiting on- are you sure they arent laying? I found a hidden frozen nest of about thirteen eggs by my wood pile.
My girls are laying now- I am in Michigan with temps ranging between the single digits to 40 degrees...more freezing days than not.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Quote:
See, that's exactly what I am talking about...but NO,,they aren't. And mine are in the hen house so I would see the eggs, they can't hide them any where out of sight..

 

[Mom 2em All]

You didnt mention how old your muscovies are. Were they laying in the fall? If they are fall babies, they may just need a little more time to get started.

 

[keeperofthehearth]

Age will play a big part, that and protien levels & light. As Mom2em All mentioned, late fall babies may take a bit longer before laying. My one late summer/early fall girl just started laying a few weeks ago. The rest of my Scovies only stopped laying for about 1mo.

& I'm in Indiana. I fed them 22% mixed w/18% flock raiser all winter along w/thawed peas and cat food as treats. I had a 125W light on over their water bowls to keep them fm freezing up but that's it. I switched to a 250W for about 1-2wks during our coldest spell then switched back once it warmed back up into to 20's. I haven't had the light on now at night for about 2 wks. but I already have/had 4 girls w/clutches & now brooding.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

I am not sure of the age actually because they were grown when I got them...but one hen was on a clutch of eggs so the lady said when she sold her to me at the poultry show last fall..and she said she should be laying again in a couple of weeks, this was in August..and the two new hens I got were hatched out late summer of last year....I feed the layer pellets like I feed the hens, is that not high enough protein? I will check on the protein levels on the bag and get back with you.... Thanks so much.

 

[gmendoza]

We feed ours Dumor layer Crumbles.Ours are on their second year.They start up in March/April then stop in September/October.Sorry yours hasnt started laying yet. Maybe they dont like mixed crowds?

Ours in in a coop of their own with a drake.

Limpy one of our musc hens is on 5 eggs now!!!